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Marshall Memorial Fellowship

General Information
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
www.gmfus.org

The German Marshall Fund of the United States


The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a non-partisan American public policy and grantmaking institution dedicated to promoting better understanding and cooperation between North America and Europe on transatlantic and global issues. GMF does this by supporting individuals and institutions working in the transatlantic sphere, by convening leaders and members of the policy and business communities, by contributing research and analysis on transatlantic topics, and by providing exchange opportunities to foster renewed commitment to the transatlantic relationship. In addition, GMF supports a number of initiatives to strengthen democracies. Founded in 1972 through a gift from Germany as a permanent memorial to Marshall Plan assistance, GMF maintains a strong presence on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to its headquarters in Washington, DC, GMF has six offices in Europe: Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Belgrade, Ankara, and Bucharest. GMF also has smaller representations in Bratislava, Turin, and Stockholm.

Marshall Memorial Fellowship


General Overview Founded in 1982, the Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) was created by the German Marshall Fund of the United States to introduce a new generation of European leaders to America's institutions, politics, and people. In 1999, GMF launched a companion program to expose future U.S. leaders to a changing and expanding Europe. Through formal and informal meetings with a range of policymakers, the Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) provides a unique opportunity for emerging leaders from the United States and Europe to engage with counterparts across the Atlantic in five cities. GMF awards over 100 Fellowships each year to the best and brightest from all professional sectors, including politics, media, business, and nongovernmental organizations. The MMF program features a network of over 2,000 alumni who remain engaged through annual conferences, regional meetings, online communications, and involvement in other GMF program areas. Beginning with the four original countries - Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands - Fellows now come from across the United States and from 37 European countries. GMF works closely with partners in more than 50 cities on both sides of the Atlantic to make the MMF program possible. The German Marshall Fund is pleased to acknowledge the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship program, which will be celebrated throughout 2012. Program Itinerary and Financial Information American and European Fellows travel during one of three 24-day programs organized each year: spring (February/March), summer (June/July), and fall (October/November). They meet formally and informally with a range of policymakers and prominent members of the business, government, political, NGO, and media communities. Partner institutions and individuals in each city provide Fellows with a local perspective on the transatlantic and domestic issues on the agenda. Along the way, each Fellow has the opportunity to explore his or her professional interests beyond the group programs, which focus on a range of domestic and international policy areas. Itineraries for American Fellows typically start in Brussels, proceeding then to a city in northern Europe, southern Europe, and eastern Europe. A different GMF office hosts each group for their program conclusion. Cities visited in past years include Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Rome, Turin, and Warsaw. European Fellows begin their Fellowship in Washington, DC and conclude in New York. In addition, they visit three American cities of various sizes, including several nights with a host family in the South or Midwest. Recent programs have included visits to Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Denver, Lincoln, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle.

Fellows are required to attend all meetings and briefings throughout the program. Participation in meetings and cooperation with and consideration towards colleagues -- both American and European -- are absolutely critical to the success of the Fellowship and the future of the program. All travel is paid by the German Marshall Fund, including international and domestic airfare, hotels, car rentals, and train tickets. Fellows also receive a stipend intended to cover a portion of programmatic-related expenses such as meals, some local transportation, and incidentals (based on moderate expenditures). Nomination and Application Process Candidates must first be nominated by a recognized professional or community leader or by an MMF alumnus/a. Nominators should be in a position senior to the candidate and should be able to evaluate the candidate's leadership potential. Candidates may not self-nominate. Nominators may only nominate one person per calendar year, may not also submit a letter of recommendation for the candidate, and should not also be applicants in the same selection year. Family members of applicants, MMF selection partners, current MMF selection committee members, and GMF staff may not serve as nominators or provide letters of recommendation. Former MMF selection committee members may not apply for the Fellowship. Once the nomination is submitted, the candidate will receive instructions for completing the online application. Application materials currently include an application form, essays, a resume/CV, and two letters of recommendation. Please note that candidates may only apply twice for the Fellowship and may not apply in consecutive years, with the exception of candidates having only one year of eligibility remaining within the age range. Applications submitted prior to 2010 will be disregarded. Eligibility Criteria for Candidates The Marshall Memorial Fellowship is a unique and intensive educational and cultural experience, the success of which depends largely on the individuals selected to participate. In addition to the criteria listed below, strong candidates will be intellectually curious, mature, thoughtful, flexible, independent, and resourceful team players. All candidates for the Marshall Memorial Fellowship program must: - be no younger than 28 (inclusive) and no older than 40 (inclusive) on January 1st of the travel year. - be citizens or permanent residents of one of the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. - be available to travel during the designated year of travel. Candidates who anticipate any inability to participate during the designated timeframe must apply in future selection cycles, as deferrals are rarely granted. - be available for 24 consecutive days of travel. Please note that Fellows will spend the majority of their time in Fellowship meetings and activities and will not be able to work during the program. - speak English proficiently. - have not had recent, prolonged, professional travel experience in Europe or the United States. - have an outstanding record of achievement in their profession and a proven commitment to sustained and effective civic/community involvement: GMF accepts candidates in all professional backgrounds, including politics, government, the media, business, and the non-profit sector. Successful Fellows will be individuals who have demonstrated a strong potential for leadership within their professional sector and their community. - demonstrate the commitment and ability to remain engaged in the Marshall Memorial Fellowship alumni network and within broader German Marshall Fund programming. - possess a passport valid at least six months beyond the assigned Fellowship dates.

All information is subject to change. Last updated May 19, 2011.

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